How to Make Your Own Gel Air Fresheners

For parents with little kids, having flaming candles around is just asking for trouble. I love how candles look and smell, but I don’t like how they attract curious little hands. Enter the gel air freshener! It’s a fun new entry in my arsenal of natural ways to make the house smell amazing.

You can customize your favorite scents, pick pretty pick-me-up colors and even add in fun decorative items, like shells or flowers. Then set them around the house and enjoy (they made my fridge smell especially awesome).

Supplies needed

1 packet Knox gelatin

3/4 cup water

1/4 cup vodka

about 15 drops essential oil (aromatherapy grade oils are okay here)

1-2 drops food coloring

Instructions

Bring the water to boil in a small sauce pan. Add gelatin packet and stir until dissolved. Let mixture sit until cooled to room temperature. Then pour into small jar and add vodka, oils and any color or decoration. Stir and refrigerate until set. Seriously, it’s that simple, folks.

Go easy with the food coloring – you only need 1 to 2 drops. For the scent, I used lavender for one and a lemon and Serenity essential oil blend for the other. As the scent fades over the course of a few weeks, you can add a few more drops of oil on top to freshen the scent. And if curious hands aren’t a problem at your house, you can attach a wick at the bottom of the glass or jar before add the gelatin to make a ‘gel candle.’ Light the candle and the scent will get even more intense.

I was really disappointed by this recipe. I was unclear as to exactly how many packs of gelatine to use. Even after refrigeration, my gel was soft. I put it out anyway, and it proceeded to grow green, furry mold. Gross.

Can I use rubbing alcohol instead of Vodka? I’d love to make these, but I live in a place where the presence of alcoholic beverages is strictly forbidden (even if it’s just for cooking or DIY purposes).
Thanks!

hi there, I made these around 3 days ago using 1 pack gelatine, 1 tbsp salt and 2 cups water. They have not set at all :( only once i refrigerate it does it set, as soon as it comes back to room temperature, its all water and oil again. I have made 8 of these from one batch of recipe I’ve mentioned. Is there anyway to salvage these? can i add more gelatin? can i add agar agar and stir again? Please help. I went all creative with the scents I’d die to know i have to waste these! :(

oh no, sorry to hear that! In my recipe I used 3/4 cup water and 1/4 cup vodka with one pack of gelatine so you might need more gelatine. Also I didn’t use salt so I’m not sure how that would affect the recipe. I hope it works out!

Thanks for sharing such a simple & creative diy way to freshen the home!
I live in a house full of dogs and love the scent burning candles can provide but
Have concerns of open flames around the animals/house for extended periods without
supervision so this idea is pure gold. I was wondering what purpose the alcohol serves in
this recipe, as I have seen similar recipes that call for salt but no alcohol. Also,
as a vegan I was curious as to if I could substitute somerhinf for the gelatin?